van de Groep Lab

The 2D Nanophotonics lab focuses on the understanding and control of resonant light-matter interactions in two-dimensional quantum materials. Our goal is to study the fundamental physics that governs the optical properties of these quantum materials, and leverage their highly tunable 2D nature to realize dynamic nanophotonic devices. By combining optically-resonant metallic and semiconductor nanostructures with exciton resonances in 2D semiconductors, we actively control light emission, scattering, and absorption in nanoscale devices and optical coatings. Our main experimental techniques include nanofabrication, light scattering experiments, confocal microscopy/spectroscopy (incl. Raman and photoluminescence measurements), photocurrent mapping spectroscopy, and low-temperature microscopy. Besides developing fundamental understanding, we demonstrate applications of novel physical concepts in optical sensors, tunable light sources, photovoltaics, optical coatings, and augmented/virtual reality.